The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12
AFTER FIVE YEARS.
A Fair Exchange Of Love Which
Was Indeed No Robbery.
IN. y. World.]

n IN. 1. NoIluJ
Diana my own darling Diana"
With a low cry of utter gladness the
young man hurried forward and clasped
the girl to his breast-clasped her and
kissed her, and looked down joyfully into
the startled vlolet-blue eyes; but she,
laughing and blushing in lovely embarrass-
ment, tore herself out Of his arms and stood
shyly before him
I'm not Diana-Tm only Dolly she
explained, demurely. "And You must be
Roy Van Alstyn, though l did not know
Diana was expecting you home 50 soon"
She was not expecting me; planned to
take her by surprise. Is it possible this is
little Dolly: You were in short frocks
when went away, my dear. You are the
living image of your sister," he said, re-
gartilng her with mingled look OF sur
prise, confusion and admiration.
ooh, indeei!" answered Miss Dolly, not
particularly fiattered. But she is not a
great deal older than l am"
s'Of COURSE" murmured the young man.
more and more confounded; you are the
picture of what she was five years ago
when saw ner last"
81 am eighteen and my sister is twenty
three" remarked Dolly, with little air OF
superiority, looking straight up into the
she thought the most taking gentleman
she had ever met, and who, she knew, had
made a clear $1,000 by his tive-years' la
Dor
But Diana is just as pretty as ever"
she added patronizingly, "and will be
awfully glad TO have you back, suppose.
She doesn't have much fun, you see, for
the fellows all understand she's engaged:
AMI I'm glad you've come for her at last,
before she gets to be a downright old maid.
Shall | run to the house and tell her!'
Il have been in the house and spoken to
your mother: Diana was out here III the
garden, she said; and that was one reason
l made the mistake, suppose" he said,
dreamily, his eyes still lingering on the
beautiful hower-like face, so fresh. so
piguant, 50 perfect. Dolly was born
rOuuette and selfish to the core of her vain
little heart She was fully aware of the
impression she was making; even now she
was thinking. with thrill, would 1t be
possible 10 cut Diana out, and catch this
handsome and generous fellow for her
self!"
For the Davenports were poor, and Dolly
logged for costlier dresses and Jewels to
set OFF her beauty; she enved her older Sis
ter her good luck; beaux Miss Dolly had
such as this--rich and fascinating. She
glanced up at him from under her long,
curling lashes.
It's too ba-i | got the first kiss" she
laughed, the soft color flying to her wild
rose face Diana will be furious
Don't tell her. them murmurcd Roy.
laughing a little, too, and unable to with
draw his admrng gaze from the lovely
Young girl Five years! never thought
about their changing Diana; yet of course
am older as well as She"
ION, but mana man ought 20 be eight
or ten years the older"
You think that, do you, Miss Dolly:'
Why, of course My lover must be all
OF that
Have you any one in particular in your
minds eye, Dolly" he asked, laughing be-
cause she laughed.
Not yet" with little affected sigh.
Somehow the youths of our rural neigh
borhood hardly come up to my ideal. Blu,
really | must look about for my sister
You must be- dying to see her, know, after
all these wears. Why, five years to me
seems like half life-timel ! wonder
you've had the patience to stand here lis
teniug TO my nonsense; | won't tell Diana
how you took me for her.
Roy Van Alstyn himself wondered why
lie had remained by Dolly and let her talk
without demanding 10 see his sweetheart
He had come into that sweet June garden,
eyes and heart aglOw, his whole soul rush
ing in advance of his footsteps For now,
rs last, after long toll and cndcavor, the
supreme hour so intensely lOngcd for was
here, when he should feel the arms Of his
true love around him once again"
Meantime, not six feet away, outside the
ieafy arbOr, sitting in the deep, glistcnng,
fragrant grass, a book in her lap, showers
Of roscpetals dropping over her gold hair
and pale. blue dress, was Diana Davenport,
moment ago dreaming happily over her
coming lover, but now white IA death, her
hands clenched, her lips quiver.ng. She
gave no token of her nearness. and the two
moving away in search Of her did not learn
that she had overheard their little chat.
Dolly was always entirely selfish" she
whispered to herself after a time IL have
given up every thing else to her, and now
she will try to win him.
She crept carefully out of the garden
into the house.
My dear, Roy has come" her mother
called out joyfully. as she was slipping
up to her room.
1 Yes, mamma, ! must smooth my hair"
| OaCe safe in her room she looked at her
self long and sadly IN the mirror
If / am pale and grave ana thought
full she murmured, Il have become so
iwaiting AMI watching for HIM. If ] had
loved him less might not have pinned away
lmy roses. Yes Dolly Is loyely-soft and
ttender and lovely as the roses out there
'snd a. soulle7s. But lie will see only her
sgirlish bloom, and she-she will break my
heart"
IL was half an hour and over before Dolly